prohibition occurred in response to a similar public health emergency, characterized by a rapid rise of accelerated silicosis that disproportionately affected young Australian workers. Health authorities implemented the prohibition after consultation with multiple stakeholders, including researchers, unions, clinicians, industrial hygienists, shop owners and manufacturers. 14 Safe Work Australia( the Australia national safety and health policy body) recently completed a review of the engineered stone prohibition and concluded that the“ prohibition of engineered stone benchtops, slabs and panels is working as intended at this early stage of implementation.” 15 The report makes recommendations for improved implementation of the prohibition, including standardized testing, marketing, labelling and safety data sheets for engineered stone and alternative products, and consistent and clear guidance for the disposal of engineered stone and other silica containing products. Additional health monitoring and epidemiological studies are also recommended, including exposure assessment and evaluation of continued workplace controls. After a series of silicosis cases were reported in the UK, medical experts have called on the UK government to follow Australia’ s lead in banning artificial stone worktops. 16
8. Alternative products are readily available and price competitive in Australia in place of engineered stone. Following the prohibition in Australia, numerous alternative products have emerged on the market with similar qualities, appearance and feel as engineered stone. These include crystalline silica free acrylic-based products; recycled glass products that consist primarily of amorphous( not crystalline) silica; and porcelain, sintered stone and natural stone. 17 An occupational medicine specialist from UC San Francisco( Robert Harrison, MD, MPH) recently returned from Australia, where he met with Australian researchers and fabrication workshop owners and confirmed there are numerous crystalline silica-free products that are widely available( personal communication). Of these, many products are composed largely of amorphous silica. These alternative products cost the same or less than prohibited engineered stone products, resulting in no economic impact to the fabricator or consumer.
processing of engineered stone is controlled, the following exceptions also apply: research and analysis; to sample and identify engineered stone; removal, repair and minor modification of installed engineered stone; and the disposal of engineered stone.
14
Cavalin C, Menéndez-Navarro A, Lescoat A. The Banning of Engineered Stone in Australia: An Evidence-Based and Precautionary Policy. Int J Soc Determinants Health Health Serv. 2025 Oct; 55( 4): 415-423; Yates D, Brislane K, Coles J, Hosseini-Beheshti E, Linton A. Comment on the Paper by Cavalin et al. The Banning of Engineered Stone in Australia: An Evidence-based and Precautionary Policy. Int J Soc Determinants Health Health Serv. 2025 Oct; 55( 4): 424-427; Tefera Y, Cole K, Ramkissoon C, Pisaniello D, Rowett S, Gaskin S, Coad M, Lalchandani NK, Williams C. Opening the policy window: how Australia banned engineered stone. Public Health Res Pract. 2025 Dec 10; 35( 4): PU25031.
15
Safe Work Australia. Review of the Engineered Stone Prohibition. December 4, 2025. See https:// www. safeworkaustralia. gov. au / doc / review-engineered-stone-prohibition.
16
Feary J, Devaraj A, Burton M, Chua F, Coker RK, Datta A, Hewitt RJ, Kokosi M, Kouranos V, Reynolds CJ, Ross CL, Smith V, Ward K, Wickremasinghe M, Szram J. Artificial stone silicosis: a UK case series. Thorax. 2024 Sep 18; 79( 10): 979-981; Wise J. Doctors call for ban on cutting artificial stone after reporting first UK cases of silicosis. BMJ. 2024 Aug 7; 386: q1755.
17
Ibid. 7